Many universities have tried to define leadership and the important aspects of it. They have discovered many important attributes, skills and techniques that are critical to success as a leader.

One of the leading theories on leadership describes four specific styles of leadership:

Directive

Supportive

Consultative

Empowering

The interesting thing about leadership style, is that each has it’s time and place. However, we all have our “default” style that we seem to use first.

Most of us would like to think we were “empowering” leaders. The truth is, most of us tend toward the middle two.

As you develop as a leader – none of us are done developing – have you understood what it means to be a leader? Do you change your style to fit the situation and the people involved in order to be more effective? Which is your “default” style?